blossoms, dogs, and a schnoz

I haven't crafted much lately. Taking the dogs out, getting ready for our trip out to California, and taking care of the garden take a huge amount of time. 

Last week, I took the dog's to the vet. It was expensive and, worse yet, Yuuko needs her teeth cleaned and will probably need a tooth pulled - it will be very, very expensive. :( Unfortunately, we can tell the tooth bothers her - for as long as we've had her her favorite way to be petted is a gentle massage along the lower jaw. Her grouchy moods where she snarls at Kei might be reduced if her tooth felt better. But then again, maybe she is just a grouchy girl.

We asked the vet to age the dogs. He is of the opinion that Kei is seven and Yuuko is probably eight - that means she might have had up to fourteen litters of puppies - no wonder she just wants to be left alone sometimes. 

We have a trip to California looming on the horizon. We will be out in California June 11-25th. Tim's parents have a time-share and they are taking us to Lake Tahoe - where we will be staying at Incline Village.

Preparation for the trip has already been a negative ordeal. I won't bore you with the tedious details but Tim and I (myself especially) are struggling to start out with the right attitude.




Time with Tim's parents is very, very hard. They dislike me and I disagree with much of what the believe and they act like children and so over the years things have been complicated, hostile, and generally uncomfortable.

For at least five years, my m.o. has been to smile, be quiet, and spend my time reading, embroidering, and taking photos. It is always long...I smile and try to non-respond when Carole baits me or insults me to my face. One fun thing will be stopping at Sequoia National Park on the way to Tahoe.

Since we have our own rooms and because I know there will be loads of time for sitting and waiting as well as avoiding confrontation. I will probably post from California.

Before we leave, we will have a busy weekend. On Saturday, we will be going to the KTIS Family Fun Fest. Peter Furler, Phil Joel, and Go Fish will be performing so we just can't miss it. Maybe K can get a picture with Peter Furler again.

On Sunday, the girls will have their piano recital. 

I've been struggling with my allergies and sinus issues since we got the dogs. I am not sure how much of it is the dogs (yes I am allergic to dogs) and how much is seasonal allergies.

I had headaches much of last weekend and my molars were getting very sensitive but I was stubborn. I felt somewhat better on Monday. Yesterday, I was nauseous and had dizzy spells. So I went to the doctor and ,as I suspected, it was sinus infection (I think stress was a trigger, I got one before our last trip to California too). It was a tough day yesterday.  I couldn't do much without getting dizzy.

When Tim came home last night, he told me that one of the salesmen at his company died of a brain aneurysm over the weekend. Greg was young - I am not sure he was even forty yet. I remember seeing him read Dickens on one of our trips to Mexico.

Aneurysms creep me out - they are sudden, unpredictable, and deadly.

Aren't my lilies lovely? :)